I'm going to grab the bull by the horns here. Pristine, guerilla style marketing for....myself. While some people hate resumes and cover letters, interviews and meetings, primarily because they let their nerves chime in. But, like telling the bartender to fill the glass to the brim, I take full advantage of talking about myself because it's one particular situation where I can. So folks, job hunting is a positive experience and I'm here to share with you some awesome jobs, companies and MOST importantly: the best, most insanely creative bosses I've ever had. These bosses hired me on experience and creativity mainly, but also on personality and my boldness to take advantage of life. "Hey, if this chic can be this brave, I bet she'll kick butt at my company!" Yes, sir.
In 1999, I went to college at the American Academy of Art right, smack off of Michigan Avenue in Chicago and obtained a bachelor's degree in Multimedia Communications in 2003. A small-town Italian girl from West Virginia (whose father is a creative, fashion photographer living in Chicago) meets the Metra Train, El Train, CTA Buses, concrete jungle and traffic. Traffic so bad, I'd pull off the side of the 6-laned road and zen out solely to reconvene myself with getting back on and aim to where I was headed. Later on I bought a kelley-green, sparkly, 1970's Schwinn Bike, (awesome love story here) because I refused to pay $30 for parking when I could tie my bike anywhere in the city. Logical.
I lived with my dad and step-mother: once, twice, three times a charm, until I finally moved into a 3-flat apartment full of guys above me who I shared a laundry room with, loved sports and "conveniently" left their laundry in the dryer because I "conveniently" folded it for them. My Italian blood kicked in, I guess.
I worked at Apple computer right after college. I consider this my first "real" job because of where it
led me. There was one other girl when I started selling the differences between MAC OS 9 (aka "Classic") and the "new" MAC OS 10. And the dial-pad iPods were brand new. Apple was new. The retail stores were scarce and Steve Jobs and Ron Johnson were just getting started.
I picked this job up quickly. My sales were great. I loved my product. I loved my majority of the male co-workers (that had contests with me each day on who would win on saying something so disgusting, it would make the other actually think about it). I joined them at Houlihan's after work for happy hour sometimes. And learned a lot from them.
About 1 year into that job, a new position at Apple Inc. opened called the "creative". It was a concept that Ron Johnson (then head of Apple Retail) had while washing his hair in the shower. The flagship store in Chicago was going to be one of the first stores to have "The Creative Kitchen" (which later changed to the "Creative Studio" to just "The Studio".) I asked my phenomenal boss about this job, he recommended me for it, I applied, I went through some wicked filters and was up against some of the most creative people on the planet. (I say this not to boast myself at all, but to express how creative these people actually were.) I was hired on as the "print/design" creative, along with a video, audio, software, and photography creative. Our job was to focus on customers who needed help being creative with a specific topic. Apple was smart. They had a main someone there to introduce. I was one of them.
I was sent to the "Mothership" for training. And like the show "The Real World", I was told to get on a plane to Cupertino, CA with the other "Creative" strangers at the time, hang out there for almost a month and be one of the first tester groups to go through this.
I learned Apple. I learned the culture. I met Ron Johnson. I ate at Cafe Macs. I even turned around at lunch on the Apple campus one day and told Steve Jobs that one of those big, chocolate chip cookies looked amazing and I might get one. (Hey, he was right behind me in line...oops.) And got sick on sushi which floated by me in a little boat.
I did this for almost 3 years until I had enough of the cold weather of Chicago (this is no joke) and asked Apple HR to please transfer me "somewhere warm". "I don't care if it's Florida. South Carolina. Georgia." "How about Texas?!" Says the HR. "Sure!" Says Cara. Now, I have never been to Texas, never even dreamed of Texas. But I was offered an interview in Dallas, got on a plane, interviewed, got the job (as a manager) looked for an apartment that same day. Flew back home, packed up my stuff, and U-hauled to Dallas. Just. Like. That.
I missed being a Creative. There wasn't a Creative position opened in the warm weather and becoming a manager was a promotion, so I took it. Later to realize that being in a creative field was written in the books for me, I left the almost 5 years vested at Apple to persue my own Creative freelancing.
That was all awesome and everything, designing ads for fashion magazines across the world right in my own office, but I also loved people. So I wanted to get back into some sort of creative "environment".
I went to Barnes and Noble everyday. 5 days a week. 8 hours a day. I applied for jobs. I went there because I had undivided attention and free Wi-Fi. I applied for ONLY jobs that tickled my fancy. And I had a way I applied for these jobs. My attitude was everything. I only applied at places I knew I would enjoy and had the experience they were looking for.
In December of 2007, I received a call from Classic BMW. I applied for the Executive/Marketing Assistant a few weeks back. I went in for 3 interviews. I feel in adoration with my boss (not a weird adoration---but one that I respected and admired due to his creativity) and immediately told myself, "I HAVE TO WORK HERE."
I got the call that I was the top pick for the job at the end of December and started January 1, 2008. The job was amazing. I got to be uber creative. T'was BMW for goodness sake! I got a BMW Z4, 2 seater-sports car, white, named it "White Lightening". I planned huge events. I aided my boss in creative advertising. Got to go to Dallas socialite parties and enter the oil and gas scene. I even raced BMW's on a racetrack (I say race when I mean "learn the cars for marketing reasons") being taught by a guy from Romania. Dealt with clients constantly who wanted us to advertise with them either in their magazine, golf tournament, professional sports team, etc. I got treated like a little princess. Gift baskets from clients, amazing bottles of wine, VIP at sports events and concerts and more. I loved that job. I loved it though more because of who I worked with. The people at that place were amazing. The jobs and bosses I had at Apple and Classic BMW made me the woman I am today and taught me about professionalism and creativity and not to be afraid to ever think outside the box and push the envelope just a little.
During the time I lived in Dallas I met a pilot in Ocean City, Maryland when I was on a traditional family vacation. I feel in love. We had a long distance relationship and, yes, I ended up marrying him. His job flying as a reservist KC-135 at Tinker Air Force base is what led us up to OKC, but first pilot-training at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, OK.
I drove from Enid to Dallas for the first 4 months of A) our marriage and B) our life in Enid, Oklahoma because I didn't want to leave the job at Classic BMW. It was over 300 miles of endless historical fiction audiobooks, prayer, and self evaluation. The drive was aging me and I had no choice but to tell my wonderful boss I had to leave and move on to the next phase of my life. He saw it coming.
As hard as that was, I knew I'd be happy spending time with my husband and soul-searching for a new job. During this time I've been freelancing. A little creative writing for an awesome modern homebuilder in Oklahoma City called "Jeff Click Homes" . His style is awesome. He likes my writing. And it's working out. I've been column writing for a local magazine good old' Etown. And designing magazine ads for high-end resorts in Brazil. Time is well spent but I'm ready to lock in a fun-lovin', creative, knock-my-socks off job in Oklahoma City.
So town, show me whatcha' got. I'm ready.
-C
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